Summary

• Ragnar's children took center stage in Vikings after his death, each embodying different aspects of their father's legacy.
• While some of Ragnar's children excelled in living up to his legacy, others fell short, facing tragic outcomes in the show.
• Bjorn Ironside stands out as the child who best embodies Ragnar's legacy, showcasing his father's strengths while also improving upon his weaknesses.

Vikings initially focused on Ragnar Lothbrok and his impact on the village of Kattegat and beyond as he carved a path of glory and bloodshed across Europe — however, after his death in season 4, the focus shifted to Ragnar's children. While Ragnar has always been a powerful figure in history and mythology, his children were just as important in both the show and the Viking sagas and the tales it's based on. Figures like Bjorn Ironside and Ivar the Boneless are just as prominent in Norse mythology, and Vikings definitely honored this fact.

Ragnar's children in Vikings were the stars of the show by the time it concluded in 2020. However, Ragnar always knew his offspring would be important. After all, in his own destined prophecy, it was just one son that changed the face of Europe. This meant that there was always a fierce rivalry between Ragnar's children, and it's clear that some were greater than others. When all their deeds are compared, however, it's clear that one of Ragnar's kids in Vikings lived up to their father's legacy more than the rest.

Vikings is available to stream on Netflix.

9 Unborn Son

Never Appeared In The Show

One of Ragnar's children never appeared on the show, and it's this one of his children that's perhaps the most tragic. The heartbreaking tipping point of Lagertha and Ragnar's marriage was the loss of their unborn son. She became pregnant early in season 2, but by the time Ragnar came home, she'd lost the baby. This moment was one of several catalysts for the breakdown of Ragnar and Lagertha's marriage, and of all the plotlines in Vikings it was perhaps the most difficult to stomach.

While Ragnar adored Lagertha, he was promised that his destiny and legacy included many sons. This loss was what made it easier for the selfish Ragnar to have relations with Princess Aslaug when he had the chance. While this was a tragic moment for Lagertha, it also unfortunately means that Ragnar's lost child is the weakest by default.

8 Magnus

Played By Dean Ridge

It's still debated among fans of Vikings whether Magnus was or was not a son of Ragnar. After all, nothing was shown on screen, but also Ragnar wasn't always the most faithful husband and Magnus' mother, Kwenthrith, was known for having relations with multiple men. It would not be surprising if the attractive queen and handsome viking became intimate at some point off-screen.

If Magnus was indeed one of Ragnar's offspring, he paled in comparison to his half-siblings, and definitely didn't live up to his father's legacy.

Whether he was a child of Ragnar, though, Magnus would still arguably be one of his worst. Magnus was a weak-willed man who followed his mother's lead. And then when she wasn't around, he just went around making claims, craving revenge, and switching sides left and right. Magnus' life ended unceremoniously in battle, and that was that. If Magnus was indeed one of Ragnar's offspring, he paled in comparison to his half-siblings, and definitely didn't live up to his father's legacy.

7 Ivar

Played By Alex Høgh Andersen

While Ivar is arguably one of Ragnar's most powerful children, he is not strong nor great. Ivar committed a lot of scheming and cruelty to accomplish all he did. Ivar may be an intelligent son, but he is not the kind to leave behind a great legacy. Many of his people hate him, even his own wife. They only follow him out of fear and power.

Willing to abandon his own son to the forest, Ivar is an awful man who only inherited Ragnar's tenacity and mental fortitude. His physical strength and integrity were lost on Ivar, and Ragnar is to blame for it. When Ivar went into self-exile, fans and the people of Kattegat probably breathed a sigh of relief. Bloodthirsty and brutal, Ivar eventually met his end in a surprising and slightly redeeming way, as he sacrificed himself to save his brother Hvitserk.

6 Sigurd

Played By David Lindström

One of the most comionate children of Ragnar, Sigurd was more likely to protect his family at home than to go on grand pillages with his father and brothers. He cared deeply for his family, his mother Aslaug in particular. However, she favored his younger brother, Ivar, because of his reliance on her. That led Sigurd to be particularly distant and sometimes cruel to his younger brother, teasing him and egging him on.

While Sigurd didn't live up to the legacy of Ragnar quite as well as his sibling and half-siblings, he did at least inherit his father's comion for his family.

Tragically, and ironically, despite his own disabilities, Ivar was the one to end Sigurd's life. Sigurd spent his last breaths taunting Ivar for how unloved and broken he was. Sigurd's rivalry with Ivar was his greatest flaw and, ultimately, his downfall. While Sigurd didn't live up to the legacy of Ragnar quite as well as his sibling and half-siblings, he did at least inherit his father's comion for his family.

5 Gyda

Played By Ruby O'Leary

It's not only the sons that stand out among Ragnar's children, and his daughter Gyda had much in common with her father. Ragnar wasn't just a warrior but also a family man, and cared deeply about the prosperity and harmony of his community — traits that Gyda exemplified. Much like Sigurd, Ragnar's only daughter, Gyda, was a comionate young woman. Where Bjorn tormented Athelstan, Gyda was kind and grew close to him. They became friends, and she helped Athelstan start warming up to the Viking people.

Unfortunately, Gyda died in Vikings season 4 shortly before Ragnar himself died. Losing sweet Gyda in the plague hurt Lagertha and Ragnar. The death of Gyda was also the moment when their once simple farm family hardened into a band of warriors connected by blood. Gyda brought out kindness in everyone around her in spite of the incomprehensible pain she suffered at the loss of her family.

4 Hvitserk

Played By Marco Ils

A great warrior, Ragnar's son Hvitserk was a viking for the ages. However, outside of battle, he's a lost man. He laughs loud and makes life-changing decisions, but he's always looking for something greater than himself, and he's never sure he's found it. For most of his life, Hvitserk was practically attached to his older brother, Ubbe. However, as he grew older and more violent in battle, he found some more commonalities with his youngest brother, Ivar.

When Hvitserk betrayed Ubbe to Ivar's rebellion, he wasn't quite sure himself if it was the right decision. Ultimately, though, he sees it as his place to end Ivar's cruel reign. After all, he's an amazing warrior, and, unlike Ivar, has a strong sense of principles and honor. Ironically, Ivar then died sacrificing himself to ensure Hvitserk lived.

3 Ubbe

Played By Jordan Patrick Smith

Of all of Ragnar and Aslaug's children, Ubbe is the most well-rounded, and, possibly, the most like Ragnar. He's willing to incorporate new cultures, he's impulsive and thoughtful to a fault, and he's an amazing warrior. However, he trusts a little too easily which lead to his brothers betraying him. While Ubbe isn't the most successful of Ragnar's sons, he is a generally good man and a reliable leader.

Even though Ivar led a kingdom, and Hvitserk led armies, Ubbe has always known when to follow orders and when to make orders of his own. He's the most measured son of Ragnar, and he deserves credit for that. However, perhaps Ubbe's greatest triumph in Vikings was reaching "The Golden Land" — North America — by the end of season 6. While Ragnar was a warrior first and an explorer second, he would have no doubt been proud of his son's achievement (even if Ubbe reaching Newfoundland wasn't historically accurate).

2 Alfred (Indirectly)

Played By Ferdia Walsh-Peelo

Ragnar did not raise Alfred nor conceive him, but he is the reason Alfred exists at all. Raiding Athelstan's temple, saving his life, and encouraging him to lead a different lifestyle all led to Athelstan's affair with Judith. Which, in turn, created Alfred. This makes him, spiritually at least, one of Ragnar's children, as he carries on his legacy in the same way as the legendary Viking's biological offspring.

Ragnar recognizes the importance of such a gesture to the boy who would go on to be known as Alfred the Great.

And the only time Ragnar meets Alfred, he greets him like family would. After all, Athelstan can't do it for himself, and Ragnar recognizes the importance of such a gesture to the boy who would go on to be known as Alfred the Great. With his father's blood and the knowledge ed down from Ecbert, Alfred is a king and a great leader. He may not be a son of Ragnar, but on a list of his legacy, Alfred deserves mention.

1 Bjorn

Played By Alexander Ludwig

Bjorn respects women more than his father does, is more durable in battle, and antagonizes people less than Ragnar did.

Of all Ragnar's children in Vikings, it is Bjorn Ironside who best lives up to his father's legacy. While Ubbe is less impulsive, Bjorn is a younger Ragnar designed for a new age. Bjorn is curious and powerful just like his father. They both are fantastic warriors in combat. However, Bjorn respects women more than his father does, is more durable in battle, and antagonizes people less than Ragnar did.

Bjorn learned so much from Ragnar, but he took that and became a better person. He may be inexperienced and naive at times, but he takes counsel to heart and, while proud, isn't too proud to take advice. With his mother as one of his top advisers, Bjorn doesn't shirk good counsel, no matter who it's from. Bjorn even had a glorious death that would have doubtless had Ragnar smiling down at him from his place in Valhalla, with Bjorn riding out to meet the Rus head-on without fear in Vikings season 6